My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

cake box down on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her and staring eagerly

cake is so

making a ‘wait’ motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut into the cake for the

her and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before

be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish

sing the

close her eyes and make a

Rachel must blow

indicate to Julian that

and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice

lowered her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking

made a wish. After that, she blew

say thank you!”

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like

of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled

need to be so courteous with me.” Walking her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t

it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that

changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately, so make sure to keep warm since you have

turned and headed toward the

apartment and about to close

propped

darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on

he out on business?

slid sideways into the house and shut the door

been getting along

she took two steps back.

her as he pulled off his

he sneered, “I suppose you

her, forcing her back

had no idea what she did

she staggered after him and was dragged all